Wednesday 15 April 2009 06.47 EDT
First published on Wednesday 15 April 2009 06.47 EDT

The losing teams in formula one's diffuser row may be ready to launch a counter-attack against Jenson Button's Brawn-Mercedes sooner than expected, with Renault set to have their version of the controversial component as early as Sunday's Chinese grand prix.

The FIA's International Court of Appeal unsurprisingly confirmed today that the design of the "double-decker" diffuser used by Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams is legal and the points won by those teams in Australia and Malaysia, notably Brawn's Jenson Button after victories in both grands prix, are retained.

However, Button is now in the firing line as the other seven teams will look to install their own secondary diffusers as swiftly as possible. Renault yesterday announced during a marathon eight-hour ICA hearing in Paris that they have a prototype ready to be installed.

It is fair to expect Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Red Bull Racing – the other appellants – will be at a similar stage of readiness, along with McLaren. Only one recourse is open to the four aggrieved teams, and that is through the French courts, who are generally adverse to interfering in sporting matters.

As noted by Brawn, given that the FIA, six stewards and five judges have sided with his team, along with Toyota and Williams who also use the diffusers, it seems certain the matter is now over.